Seven Oracles of Jesus to the Seven Churches: First Oracle to Ephesus Revelation 1:20-2:7 Introduction The Prophet Amos Seven Oracles of God to the Seven Nations Syria, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Israel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers. (1:2) Proclamation Presentation Explanation Expectation LORD (Amos 1:3-5) (Amos 1:6-8 (Amos 1:9-10 (Amos 1:11-12 (Amos 1:13-15 (Amos 2:1-3 (Amos 2:4-5 (Amos 3:6-16 Damascas, and for punishment Gaza, and for punishment Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the Edom, and for the Ammonites, and for four, I will not Moab, and for Judah, and for Israel, and for because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom. because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. (1:9) because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever. (1:11) because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border. (1:13) because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom. (2:1) because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked. So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem. (2:4-5) because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned; they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined. So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the gate-bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir, says the LORD. So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour her strongholds. I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord GOD. So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour her strongholds. So I will send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah. So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour her strongholds, with shouting on the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind; and their king shall go into exile, he and his princes together, says the LORD. So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet; I will cut off the ruler from its midst, and will kill all its princes with him, says the LORD. So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem. Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down. Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, declares the LORD. Seven Oracles of Jesus to the Seven Churches: First Oracle to Ephesus 1
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (1:20) 1) ANGEL: To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: (2:1a) 1. Paul stays briefly in Ephesus on 2 nd missionary journey (51 AD). He leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus. (Acts 18:19-21) 2. Apollos arrives in Ephesus and taught by Priscilla and Aquila. The church sends Apollos to Corinth. (Acts 18:24-28) 3. On 3 rd missionary journey (52-57 AD), disciples in Ephesus are baptized and speak in tongues (Acts 19:1-7) 4. Paul stays in Ephesus two years, preaching first in the synagogue, then in the hall of Tyrannus. The people of Asia heard the gospel. (Acts 19:8-10) 5. Paul performs supernatural works in Ephesus, casting out demons. Paul encounters Sceva, a Jewish high priest. Many delivered by demons burned their books of magic. (Acts 19:11-20) 6. An uproar occurs, led by Demetrius, that Paul is leading people away from the worship of idols. The town clerk eventually quiets the riot, and Paul leaves Ephesus. (Acts 19:23-41) 7. Paul meets and prays with the elders of the church in Ephesus in Miletus on his return to Jerusalem. (Acts 20:17-38) 8. Paul writes at letter to the church in Ephesus from his Roman imprisonment (62 AD). 9. Paul writes to Timothy while he is in Ephesus (I Timothy 62-64 AD). 10. Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesus while Paul awaits his execution in Rome (2 Timothy 64-67 AD). 2) AUTHOR: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. (2:1b) 3) ASSERTION: I know (2:2a) 4) APPROVAL: your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. (2:2b-3) 2
Opposition to the Gospel: And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:8-10 Evil Spirits and Exorcisms: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims. Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you? And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. (Acts 19:13-17 Burning of Magic books: Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Acts 19:18-20 Opposition to the Gospel due to economic reasons: About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship. The Gospel opposes idol worship: When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. (Acts 19:23-41 Teaching to the Ephesian elders : Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:18:35 5) ACTION: I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (2:4-5) 3
1) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (Eph 1:15-16) 2) This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Eph 3:6) 3) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:14-19) 4) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3) 5) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph 4:15-16) 6) Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 4:25-5:1) 7) Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Eph. 6:24) 4) APPROVAL: Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (2:6) 6) ADMONITION: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (2:7a) Jesus Seven Ears to Hear John the Baptist and the baptism of repentance: (Matthew 11:15) The parable of the Four Soils: (Matthew 13:1-9) The fulfillment of Isaiah s prophecy (Matthew 13:14-15) The parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:36-43) A lamp under a basket (Mark 4:21-25) The leaven of the Pharisees and Herod (Mark 8:14-21) Salt without taste (Mark 14:34-35) 7) ASSURANCE: To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (2:7b) Life: Genesis 2:9 Wisdom: Proverbs 3:18 4 Righteousness: Proverbs 11:30 Fulfilled Desire: Proverbs 13:12
Gentile Tongue: Proverbs 15:4 Holy City: Revelation 22:14 5